This article explains how to import a subscription into Shadowrocket, guiding you through adding a subscription, updating nodes, and testing the connection on your iPhone. It also describes how IP addresses, DNS, your browser environment, and connection results are related. A successful import does not guarantee that a node is usable, so check things in order to avoid repeatedly changing unrelated settings.
1. What to prepare before importing
Install Shadowrocket through the official App Store, and verify the app name and developer information. Do not install configuration profiles from unknown sources or purported cracked versions. Have the subscription link provided by your service provider ready, and confirm that it supports Shadowrocket. A webpage with instructions, a QR code image, or a link to a single node is not necessarily a subscription.
A subscription link is like an access credential. Do not share it publicly or post it in the comments. When copying it, make sure the full link is intact and that it contains no extra spaces, line breaks, or Chinese punctuation. If our free nodes page provides a subscription, check its format instructions and last-updated date first. We cannot guarantee that all nodes will remain available.
2. How to import a subscription into Shadowrocket
- Open Shadowrocket and go to the home screen. Tap the “＋” in the upper-right corner to add an item.
- Under “Type,” select “Subscribe” or “Subscription.” The wording may vary slightly between versions.
- Paste the full subscription URL into the “URL” field, enter a recognizable name in the remarks field, then tap Done or Save.
- Return to the home screen and wait for the app to download the nodes. If they do not refresh automatically, open the subscription’s edit or management menu and update it.
- Expand the subscription group and select a node. For your first test, use the app’s default routing settings and avoid importing unfamiliar rules.
- Turn on the connection switch on the home screen. The first time you connect, follow the iOS prompts to allow a VPN configuration and complete system verification.
If you see a list of nodes, the subscription content has been parsed successfully. If you see only the subscription name with no nodes, first troubleshoot how the subscription was retrieved or whether its format is supported—not your browser settings.
3. Troubleshooting import or connection problems
- Download failed: Turn off the proxy and try opening a regular webpage on your current network to confirm that your basic connection works. Then check whether the subscription has expired or been reset. If needed, try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data.
- Parsing failed: Make sure the link returns subscription content supported by the app, not a login page or error page. Do not try to convert the format simply by changing the URL suffix.
- Nodes appear, but the connection fails: Update the subscription manually and try a different node. Make sure the system date and time are set automatically, and temporarily disable any other VPN apps that might conflict.
- Some webpages fail to load after connecting: First determine whether the problem affects all sites or only certain ones. Then check your routing rules and DNS settings, changing only one option at a time.
4. How IP, DNS, and your browser environment are related
Your IP address indicates the network egress that websites see. When using rule-based routing, sites accessed directly may still show your local egress. So seeing your local IP does not necessarily mean the proxy connection has failed—also check whether the IP lookup request is routed through the proxy.
DNS resolves domain names to addresses. DNS issues can result in being “connected but unable to open webpages,” but they are usually not the primary reason a subscription cannot be imported. Keep the client’s default settings where possible, and adjust them only after confirming that the problem is related to DNS resolution. Do not copy DNS settings from unknown sources.
Browser cache, cookies, account sign-in, and location permissions can also affect the region a website displays. You can compare results in a private browsing window, but it will not automatically change your egress IP. After importing, separately verify the node connection, access to the target webpage, and your egress details. This is more reliable than checking the VPN icon alone.